Andrew Jackson

1. Andrew Jackson

2. Early Life • Andrew Jackson was born into a poor family in South Carolina. • He fought in the American Revolution • Became famous as the commander during the Battle of New Orleans during the War of 1812. • This battle did not need to get fought as the Treaty of Ghent had already been signed ending the war.

3. Running for president • Jackson ran for president against John Quincy Adams in 1824. He lost. • He ran against Adams again in 1828 and won. • Jackson said he represented the common man.

4. Jackson as president • Jackson hired the people who helped him get elected. • This became known as the “spoils system.”

5. Jacksonian Democracy • Jackson promised to take care of the common people. This became known as Jacksonian Democracy. • The idea of spreading political power to the people and ensuring majority rule.

6. Issues Jackson faced as president

7. Tariffs • Tariffs are taxes on imported goods. • Northerners liked the tariffs. The north had factories which benefited. • The South hated the tariffs. The tariffs raised the prices they paid for factory goods.

8. How a tariff works

9. Crisis over Nullification • Southern states, especially South Carolina fought against the tariffs. • They said a state had the right to nullify, or reject, a federal law that it considers unconstitutional.

10. States’ Rights • South Carolina threatened to secede, or leave the United States if the tariff laws were enforced. • Jackson was furious. He said, “I will hang the first man of them I can get my hands on from the first tree I can find.” • South Carolina backed down and the crisis ended, but the tensions between the North and the South would remain.

11. The Bank of the United States • The Bank of the United States was the most powerful bank in the country. • It held government funds and issued money. • President Jackson disliked the bank. • He didn’t trust banks and thought the Bank of the United States had too much power. • Jackson set out to destroy the bank. • The people who opposed Jackson called him a tyrant saying that he wanted too much power.

12. Indian Issues • Indians had been forced off their lands since the white man had come to America. They tried to adopt white man’s ways. • Sequoya – wrote a Cherokee alphabet • Cherokee had their own newspaper • Wore white man’s clothes • Wrote a constitution • None of this mattered

13. Indian Removal • Gold was found on Cherokee land making it even more valuable to white settlers • Jackson called for the removal of the Cherokee off their lands. • This became known as the Indian Removal Act. • The Cherokee went to the Supreme Court over their removal and won, but Jackson ignored the ruling.

14. Trail of Tears • About 15,000 Cherokee were forced from their homes. • Thousands died on the way to Oklahoma. • This became known as the Trail of Tears.

15. Andrew Jackson political cartoons • Study the following four political cartoons of Andrew Jackson. • 1. Identify any people or objects seen in the cartoon. • 2. Identify the title of the cartoon as well as any words/dates listed. • 3. Describe any actions taking place in the cartoon. • 4. Explain the message of the cartoon